Tube cleaner



Nov. 7,, 1939.

J. F. MATTERN ET AL TUBE CLEAN ER Filed Dec. 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y INVENTOR5 J- 5 7 1 f Ya. J A 0 "0 78 w, 2d [WM 4 v #1 im H- I n Z 5 3 0 3 5 3 N V- 7. 93 .1. F. MATTERN ET AL 2,178,801

TUBE CLEANER Filed Dec. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS wk; m

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE CLEANER John Frederick Mattern,

Wilkinsburg, Pa., and

' Application December 28, 1937, Serial No. 182,046

15 Claims.

This invention pertains to motor driven tube cleaners, and more particularly, to tube cleaners of flexible construction.

At the present time, small diameter tubes are being increasingly used in boiler, heat exchange,

and petroleum distillation applications. The element of cost has been important in this connection since it is difficult to fabricate non corrosive and stainless steels in heavy walls and large diameters, and since special steels are being used due to higher temperature and pressure conditions. It is also easier to maintain turbulent flow conditions on the liquid side of a heat exchange wall with small diameter tubing. Then, too, tubes of this type are much easier to fabricate and. bend.

In boiler work, the tubes are subject to scale, and in petroleum refining work, are subject to coking, while in general process work they may, 00 in addition, be plugged with products of corrosion. It is thus necessary to find some practical and effective way for cleaning them.

Frequently in furnace applications, either in still or boiler work, the tubes are exposed to radiant heat and are intended to absorb it. They are usually backed by some refractory material in order to provide radiation to the rear as well as to the front of the tubes. In order to protect the refractories, the tubes are spaced close together and a line of fittings known as return bends are employed. The return bends are merely elbows of 180 are designed to clamp on the tubes; being of extremely short radius, the tubes are brought closely together.

Frequently in heat exchange work, substantially the same construction is employed, short radius bends being provided in order to group the tubes closely together and to reduce the volume of the enclosing structure which is, of course, expensive. In many cases the tubes themselves are bent to short radii, this being a permissible feature with small tubes, eliminating the return bend. In refinery and boiler work, the tubes are bent into all sorts of shapes to avoid baflles for directing the gas flow, and there is no uniform pattern among manufacturers.

From the above description, it will appear that a cleaning device for cleaning tubes of the above classification must be able to negotiate a short r0 radiusbend. Tube cleaning practice originally contemplated the cleaning of bends where large diameter tubes were employed. Heads for this type of work have been found to be entirely impractical for the cleaning of narrow diameter tubes. In the old conventional cleaning combinations, operation was only possible where the flexure was sufficient to permit transmission of rotation; and, if the deflection became sufficiently great, the head tended to revolve completely about the motor axis, and being restrained in such motion, would stall. There is also considerable wear on the flexible shaft and a great waste of power.

We have found that the axial length over which rigidity applies is very important. This might be called the wheel base" of the individual parts. When the rigid parts lie in the tube,

. they occupy a chord in the bend and this chord must be short enough to prevent binding. Also, the chord of the head combination must be such that intersecting chords represented by the motor and head must intersect at a sufliciently large angle, in order that rotation can be transmitted through the joint. From this standpoint, therefore, the rigid length or wheel base is a very important factor.

We have conceived the idea of combining the rigid length of the motor and the head in one part by suitably mounting the cutter on the front end of the motor shaft and permitting the cutter to at least partially encircle the motor in such a manner that sufficient cutting surface will be provided without materially increasing the rigid length of the combination. We were immediately faced with the problem of exhausting the air from the motor (if a fluid motor is being employed) and found it necessary to provide suitable venting. We found that the location of vent holes and their arrangement was very important.

We also found that the combination would work in unbelievably sharp or short bends and in very narrow diameter tubes when a suitable joint was provided at the rear of the combination between the motor and the fluid supply hose. Although the hose normally has considerable ability to bend, we found that in bending it produced a reaction on the motor combination and did not allow the combination to lie freely in the tube to the extent that its axial length would permit, and that the reaction from the bent hose forced the head against the outer tube wall. In providing this joint, we preferred a somewhat conventional type having a single plane of freedom, in that it was found that this type would provide the desired results with a minimum leakage of air; other suitable types such as a two- 'plane joint can be employed.

We then discovered that the cutter head combination would lie in one place and not cover the bends;

Another object of our invention has been to devise an inexpensive, simple, and effective, as well as eflicient form of motor-driven cleaning device having improved characteristics;

Another object of our invention has been to devise an improved method of operating a cleaner device within a tube structure;

A further object of our invention has been to provide a tube cleaning device particularly suitwheel base results;

able for the requirements previously discussed above;

A still further object has been to devise a compact and efficient form of flexible cleaning device of such a nature that rigid portions thereof are combined in such a manner that a minimum These and many other objects of our invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the drawings, the description thereof, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a cleaner device constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention in an operating relationship with respect to a tube bend;

Figure 2 is a vertical side cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are end sectional views taken along the lines lII--III, IV-IV, and V-V, respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a front view in elevation showing a detail of a cleaner element of the embodiment of our invention disclosed in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6a is a sectional detail taken along the 2 line VIa-V'Ia of Figure 6;

Figure 7 is a side view of a modifled form of cleaner device; and

Figure 8 is. an enlarged end elevation of the device of Figure 7.

The numeral l0 indicates an embodiment of our invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, see Figures 1 and 2. The device or combination i0 is provided, as shown, with a casing head portion I I, preferably of cylindrical outline. One end of the casing H is open, as shown particularly in Figure 2, and is provided with inner thread portions l6 for removably receiving a threaded cap portion l2 of a hinge joint IS.

The hinge joint i3 pivotally connects the cap portion l2 to a connector portion H. The connector I4 is inwardly threaded at Ma to receive a male threaded portion of a flexible hose I. The hose is is shown reinforced with a wire winding to protect it and at the same time to give it stiffness, see Figure 1.

A suitable fluid motor is mounted in the casing l I and includes a support or axle shaft 25 having rotor segments 28 securely mounted thereon; the shaft 25 and segments 26 are integral in the construction shown. The segments 26 are preferably separated by spaced-apart or slotted portions that receive sliding vanes or paddles 21. For

producing the desired wane action, two halves of the inner periphery of the casing ll form intersecting circles in continuation, in order that opposite vanes will be simultaneously actuated during the rotation of the device. Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the chamber, the rotative movement produced is evenly distributed. Fluid is introduced into the motor through the connector ll, the connection II, the cap I2, and through a positioning washer element Il. As noted, the flow is from passageway 20 to passageway 20a to chamber 2| through ports or passageways 2lb into the chamber of the casing I I. Exhaust ports or slits 32 are provided at opposite ends of the casing and are preferably symmetrically located, see particularly Figure 3.

A cleaner element 20 having suitable cleaner portions or teeth 2| about the outer periphery thereof is mounted on a tapered end portion 22 of the axle shaft 25 and is removably secured thereto by a suitable cotternut 29. As noted, the inner wall or peripheral portions of the cleaner element 20 are slotted out to provide a fluid exhaust chamber 22. 'I'hechamber I2 is somewhat annulus-like in shape adjacent the front wall portion of the cleaner element III and is somewhat cylindrical about the outer wall portion of the casing ll. Adjacently positioned exhaust ports 24 are cut out or provided in the outer peripheral portions ii of the cleaner element 20, see particularly Figure 1. They, of course, communicate with the exhaust chamber 22.

The rotor-positioning, removable washer I! is mounted as shown upon an inset peripheral ledge portion ll of the casing II. The washer I1 is slotted to receive a pin I 8 that extends outwardly from the ledge III to prevent its rotation. It is also centrally chambered to rotatably receive and to act as a bearing for one end of the rotor shaft 25.- The cap I! is removably held in position by the threaded cap I 2. The front end of the casing ll serves as a bearing for the portion of the axle 2! extending therethrough. It will thus be seen that the entire combination may be readily assembled, disassembled, and reassembled.

In operation, the actuating fluid moves along the paths indicated by the arrows through the passageways or ports 20 and2la, chamber 2| and ports or passageways 20b to actuate the vanes of the motor and produce rotation of the rotor 28 and, of course, of the axle 25. This in turn rotates the cleaner element 20 which is securely but removably secured to the tapered portion 2|. Fluid exhausts, as previously explained, from the chamber 23 through the ports 24. The unbalance produced by this location, arrangement, and/or construction of the ports 34 causes the cleaner element to move somewhat eccentrically and to produce a whipping action. As a result, the entire inner periphery of the tube structure 40 is suitably cleaned as the combination is advanced therealong. The whipping or eccentric action of the unit produces what may be termed a dynamically unbalanced rotation. It will be noted that the whipping or eccentric action is about the pivot point It rather than about the motor unit, itself. The cleaner structureor element ll also surmounts at least a portion of the motor casing II. This produces a compact form of unit having a high efficiency of cleaning action.

Although we have produced the whipping action without eccentrically mounting the cleaner element, we contemplate doing this, and also contemplate providing the cleaner element with 7 ofi-balanced counter-weight portions. It will be noted, of course, that the weight of the cleaner element 3| is off-balanced due to the location of the ports unsymmetrically with respect thereto, and that the exhaust of fluid through such ports also aids the whipping action.

As shown particularly in Figure 3, we have provided pairs of spaced-apart communicating ports or holes 26a that extend from the outer periphery of each stator segment 26 inclinely downwardly therethrough to connect with or vent the bottom of the spacing ofgthe vane or paddle slots separating one segment from the other. These holes, in effect, lubricate the vanes as well as the stator and producea'smooth and uniform rotary action within the casing I I; they also prevent paddle or vane piston effects. The rotor shaft portion 25 is shown drilled out through its entire length and vented at its front end; the hole thus provided vents the rear hearings to provide a pressure difference thereacross suflicient to provide oil therefor.

In Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, we have shown a modified form of our invention. In this embodiment, for the purpose of simplifying the description thereof, we have designated similar parts by corresponding numeral designations of the previously described embodiment of our invention. In this form, a spider or head 4| is secured on the outwardly extending end of the axle shaft 25 and is secured thereto by the cotter nut 29. In other words, the spider 4| is mounted in place of the cutter element construction 3| of the embodiment of our invention shown in Figures 1-6, inclusive. outwardly swinging arms are pivotally mounted on bifurcated portions of the spindle 4| by means of removable pivot pins 42. As shown, each pivot pin 42 may have a cotter opening adjacent theextending end thereof for receiving a wedge or cotter element, as shown particularly in Figure 8.

We have also mounted suitable cleaning and/or cutter elements 44 and 45 on the extending end portions of the swinging arms 43 by means of suitable cutter pins 46. The pins 46 may be removably mounted in the customary manner.

To prevent the arms 43 as well as the cutter elements 44 from striking against the casing ll of the motor [0, each arm is provided, as shown, with an inwardly projecting contact lug or stud 41. The stud 4'! permits the arms to swing outwardly but limits their maximum inward swing.

In operation, the motor rotates the shaft 25 and the spider or head 4| which in turn rotates the cleaner elements 44 and 45. The centrifugal action of the rotary force, of course, tends to throw the cleaner elements outwardly against the inner wall portions of the tubing 40 being cleaned.

In both embodiments of our invention, any suitable form of motor may be employed and also any suitable form of connector device. However, we prefer a connector device for connecting the motor to the source of actuating medium that permits a substantially pivotal movement between the elements connected.

Although we have for the purpose of illustration shown certain embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other suitable embodiments may be employed and that modifications, additions, subtractions, and/or combinations therewith may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

We claim:

Backwardly extending and 1. In a motor driven tube cleaner for sharp radius bends, a motor unit having rotative and stationary parts including an extending shaft connected to said rotative parts, actuating means for said rotative parts, a cleaner structure securely mounted on said shaft and being actuated thereby, said cleaner structure having a cleaner portion constructed and arranged to extend over and above a portion of said motor unit and to move about stationary parts thereof.

2. In a tube cleaner as defined in claim 1, means for producing an eccentric movement of said cleaner structure and said motor unit during rotation of said cleaner structure.

3. In a motor driven tube cleaner, rotative means, a rotatable cleaner element structure operably connected to said means, at least one fluid passage opening through said cleaner element structure, and means for supplying fluid to said passage, said passage being arranged and located to impart a dynamically unbalanced rotation to said cleaner structure.

4. In a motor driven tube cleaner, rotative means, means for supplying an actuating agency to said rotative means, a rotatable cleaner element operably associated with said rotative means, at least one offsetly located port in said cleaner element, and means for exhausting such actuating, agency substantially radially through said port, said port being adapted and arranged to impart a dynamically unbalanced rotativemovement to said cleaner element.

5. In a motor driven tube cleaner device, a motor having a suitable casing, said motor having rotatable and non-rotatable portions, a spider positioned adjacent a forward end of the cleaner device and having arms extending backwardly over said casing, said spider being operably connected to the rotatable portions of said motor for rotation therewith.

6. In a motor driven tube cleaner device as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms are swinging arms.

7. In .a motor driven tube cleaner, a motor having a body portion, a hinge joint connected to said body portion and supplying motive fluid to said motor unit, said motor having a rotatable shaft extending beyond said body portion, a spider mounted on said extending shaft for rotation therewith, swinging arms pivotally mounted on' radius bends, a motor casing, a hinge joint hav- 55 ing a fluid passageway extending therethrough and connecting with said motor casing, said hinge joint having a pivot pin construction to provide a single plane of movement, a flexible hose connected to said hinge joint and supplying motive fluid through said passageway to said casing, a motor in said casing, a shaft operably connected to said motor and extending from said casing, and a cleaner element structure operably mounted on the extending portion of said shaft and being rotatably mounted with respect to said casing, said cleaner element structure being driven by said'motor and said shaft, said cleaner element structure being operably positioned about a portion of said casing.

9. In a motor driven tube cleaner, a motor having a suitable casing, flexible means adjacent one end of said casing for supplying motive fluid to said motor, an exhaust passage in said casing adjacent an opposite end thereof, a cleaner element operably mounted about said opposite end of said casing and forming a fluid exhaust chamber with respect to said casing, said cleaning element being operably connected to said motor for actuation thereby, and a pair of exhaust ports in said cleaner element in fluid communication with said passage and adjacently spaced with respect to each other and unsymmetrically spaced with respect to said cleaner element.

10. In a motor driven tube cleaner,,a motor having a suitable casing, means supplying motive fluid through said casing to said motor for actuating said motor, a cleaner element surrounding at least a portion of said casing and being operably and concentrically mounted with respect to said casing, said cleaner element being actuated by said motor, and said cleaner element being constructed and arranged to rotate eccentrically with respect to a tube being cleaned.

11. In a motor driven tube cleaner, a motor casing having a pair of spaced-apart head portions, a motor in said casing, a hinge joint, passageways in one of said head portions communicating with said hinge joint for supplying motive fluid to said motor, said motor being constructed and arranged to rotate within said casing when actuated by the motive fluid, a cleaner element operably mounted over the other of said head portions, said cleaner element being operably connected to said motor for rotation thereby, and said cleaner element having an off-balanced weight for producing a whipping action during its rotation.

12. In a motor driven tube cleaner, a motor casing having a pair of spaced-apart head portions, a motor in said casing, means supplying motive fluid through one of said head portions to said motor, an exhaust passage in the other of said head portions for the motive fluid, a cleaner element operably mounted on said last-mentioned head portion and being constructed and arranged to be rotated by said motor, a fluid exhaust chamber formed between said cleaner element and said last-mentioned head portion, and a pair of exhaust ports extending through said last-mentioned head portion adjacent a peripheral portion thereof, said exhaust ports being located in such a manner that the weight of said cleaner element is unevenly balanced about its center of rotation.

' 13. In a motor driven flexible tube cleaner, a motor casing having a motor chamber therein, a motor rotor having vanes operably mounted thereon, said rotor being operably mounted in said chamber, a pair of fluid passageways adjacent one end of said casing in communication with said chamber for supplying motive fluid to said rotor, a pair of exhaust passages adjacent an opposite end of said casing in communication with said chamber, a cleaner element operably connected to said rotor adjacent an end of said casing, said casing and said cleaner element being constructed and arranged to provide an exhaust chamber therebetween adjacent said exhaust passages, and exhaust ports in said cleaner element communicating with said exhaust chamber, said ports being constructed and arranged to produce a dynamically unbalanced rotative action of said cleaner element during actuation by said rotor.

14. In a motor driven tube cleaner, a casing, a fluid motor operably mounted in said casing, a flexible connector supplying motive 'fluid through said casing to said motor, a cleaner element having suitable cleaning portions about its periphery, said cleaner element being operably connected to said motor for actuation thereby and having a portion extending over said casing, an exhaust passage communicating with said motor and with an inner periphery of said cleaner element, and

an exhaust port opening through the cleaning portions of said cleaner element and communieating with said exhaust passage.

15. In a motor driven tube'cleaner, a motor having a suitable non-rotatable casing, a spider having swinging arms, said arms extending backwardly over said casing, at least one cleaner element carried by said swinging arms, said swinging arms being-constructed and arranged to rotate with said motor and with respect to said casing.

JOHN FREDERICK MA'I'IERN. VIRGIL HOMER BAKER. 

